Relay For Life of Hurricane honors cancer survivor Hayden Wright

HURRICANE — The American Cancer Society will honor Hayden Wright during the Relay For Life of Hurricane’s opening ceremonies, taking place at Hurricane Intermediate School, 1325 S. 700 W. in Hurricane on May 15 at 6 p.m..

Hayden Wright was diagnosed at age 2 with a form of kidney cancer, Wilms Tumor. By the age of 3, Hayden had been through more health scares than most average adults; he had completed chemotherapy, radiation and had had one of his kidneys removed. Now reflecting back on his diagnosis and treatment:

“Cancer is something that is a part of my life and is something that my family just has,” Hayden said.

His Father, Aunt and Great Grandmother have all been diagnosed with some form of cancer. It is for that reason that Hayden describes Relay For Life as a family event. For the past 18 years, he and his family have made participating in Relay For Life events a family priority and although their team name changes year to year, their determination toward finding a cure and eliminating cancer never waivers.

Since the age of 2, Hayden and his family have been actively involved in several different Relay For Life events; Hurricane, Cedar, St. George and his college event at the University of Utah. With the help of his family, at just age 12, Hayden became one of the nation’s youngest volunteer event chairs for the Relay For Life of Hurricane.

The Relay For Life program is a family and community event where teams and individuals set up campsites at a school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team has at least one participant on the track at all times. Cancer survivors and caregivers take a celebratory first lap to start each event. Teams raise money in the months before the event in a variety of ways. Four million people participated in more than 6,000 events worldwide last year.

“Here in Hurricane, funds raised through Relay For Life event are making an impact on many lives,” David Moore, staff partner for the American Cancer Society, said. “From making possible the vital American Cancer Society programs and services that support those in our community facing a diagnosis, to life-changing cancer research and medical discovery, to advocacy for access to quality health care for everyone affected by cancer, the money raised through the Relay For Life of Hurricane event will help us finish the fight against cancer.”

The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers saving lives and fighting for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. As the largest voluntary health organization, the Society’s efforts have contributed to a 22 percent decline in cancer death rates in the U.S. during the past two decades, and a 50 percent drop in smoking rates. Thanks in part to our progress nearly 14.5 million Americans who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will celebrate more birthdays this year.

We’re determined to finish the fight against cancer. As the nation’s largest private, not-for-profit investor in cancer research, we’re finding cures and ensuring people facing cancer have the help they need and continuing the fight for access to quality health care, lifesaving screenings, clean air, and more. For more information, to get help, or to join the fight, visit cancer.org or call us anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345.

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